AAP MP Raghav Chadha Agrees to Apologize To Rajya Sabha Chairperson, Supreme Court Urges 'Sympathetic View' On Suspension

Contemplating a 'way forward' in the matter concerning the suspension of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha, the Supreme Court today recorded the statement of Chadha agreeing to tender an unconditional apology to the Chairperson of Rajya Sabha and urged the Chairperson to take a 'sympathetic view' for the same. 

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra noted that Chadha was the youngest and a first time member of the Parliament and the Chairperson may consider taking an objective view in the matter to move forward. In the last hearing, the bench had expressed concerns at the indefinite suspension of Chadha and had remarked that the principle of proportionality had to be kept in mind as exclusion of the voice of an opposition party was a serious matter. The CJI had added– "We must be very careful about not excluding those voices from the Parliament."

Today, the CJI said–

"Last time we said that if he was tendering an apology, the Chairperson, who is a very distinguished person and a senior constitutional functionary, perhaps he may take an objective view."

The Attorney General as well as the Solicitor General agreed to the same. The CJI then asked Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for Chadha, if he would be willing to tender an apology. The CJI said– 

"Mr Farasat, you have already apologised six times. But would you be willing to seek an appointment with the Hon'ble Chairperson and meet the Chairperson, tender an apology?"

Farasat agreed to do so and said–

"He is the youngest member in the house of elders. Of course he doesn't mind tendering an apology. Even in my letter to Privileges Committee I had said my personal apology to the Chairperson...". Farasat further said that the apology will not be in prejudice to the legal contentions raised against the suspension.

Accordingly, the bench recorded the statement that an apology would be tendered and stated–

"Mr Farasat says that he is the youngest member in Rajya Sabha. Bearing in mind that he has no intention to affect dignity of the house of which he is a member, Mr Farasat submits that petitioner will seek an appointment with Chairperson so that he may place an unconditional apology which may be considered sympathetically."

Chadha was suspended over the allegation that he did not ascertain the willingness of certain members whose names were proposed by him as members of the select committee for the GNCTD (Amendment) Bill 2023. The Rajya Sabha Chairperson suspended Chadha pending the inquiry by the Privileges Committee following a resolution passed by the house.

The matter is now listed after Diwali breaks. 

Case Title: Raghav Chadha v. Rajya Sabha Secretariat And Ors. W.P.(C) No. 1155/2023

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